MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Epidemiology of mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients in northwest Iran: Rhizopus arrhizus as the predominant species

Summary

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a dangerous fungal infection called mucormycosis was found in 63 patients in northwestern Iran. The infection was caused mainly by a fungus called Rhizopus arrhizus and most commonly affected the sinuses and brain. Most patients had been given high-dose steroids to treat their COVID-19, which weakened their immune systems and increased their risk of this serious fungal infection, especially those with diabetes.

Background

COVID-19 pandemic led to increased secondary opportunistic infections due to high-dose systemic corticosteroid therapy and immune dysregulation. COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) is a deadly fungal infection with high mortality rates. Different geographic areas and environmental factors require local epidemiological investigation of CAM.

Objective

This study aimed to assess demographic features, clinical characteristics, species diversity, and contributing factors among patients with COVID-19-associated mucormycosis in northwestern Iran. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first molecular identification study of CAM in Northwest Iran.

Results

Of 70 suspected patients, 63 were confirmed with COVID-19 and mucormycosis (90%). Mean age was 56.65±14.49 years with 63.5% male patients. Sinus involvement was most common (63.5%), and 84% received intravenous dexamethasone. Rhizopus arrhizus was the predominant causative agent in 21 (33%) positive cultures.

Conclusion

Corticosteroid therapy for COVID-19 management not only causes immune dysfunction but may also lead to mucormycosis development through corticosteroid-induced diabetes in vulnerable patients. Awareness among physicians should be raised about this life-threatening mycosis, especially in diabetic patients or those developing diabetes from prolonged corticosteroid therapy.
  • Published in:Current Medical Mycology,
  • Study Type:Cross-sectional descriptive study,
  • Source: PMID: 41122126, DOI: 10.22034/cmm.2025.345248.1591
Scroll to Top